Firearm balancer



y 1941- w. L. SWARTZ 2,240,81

FIREARM BALANCER Original Filed Dec. 4, 1936 In van is 02" NHL Em L.Ewart 2 .5 1/. W Mam Patented May 6, 1941 'rmEAar/r BALANCER necticutOriginal application December 4, 1936, Serial No. 114,210. Divided andthis application June 2,

1938, Serial No. 211,441

4 Claims.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a construction whereby thecenter of gravity of a firearm can be changed. The balance or feel of afirearm is largely controlled by the location of its center of gravity,and users of firearms differ in their preferences as to this balance orfeel.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a firearm with abalancer located adjacent and beneath the barrel and which includesbalancing means adjustable to change the balance characteristics of thecombined firearm and balancer. From the following specification otherobjects and advantage of the invention will be apparent to those skilledin the art.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No.114,210, filed Decemher 4, 1936, which has matured into Patent No.2,140,945, issued December 20, 1938.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown the embodiment which I now deempreferable, but it will be understood that the drawing is intended forillustrative purposes only and is not to be relied upon as limiting ordefining the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of thespecification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a firearm with a balancer incorporating theprinciples of the invention attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through thelongitudinal axis of the balancer.

The invention is not limited to any particular type of firearm, but forthe purpose of this specification I have illustrated it in conjunctionwith an automatic pistol. The automatic pistol generally indicated at Icomprises a barrel 2, front sight 3, breech bolt 4, trigger 5, and grip6. As the particular type of firearm does not constitute any part ofthis invention, any further detailed description thereof is notnecessary,

Located adjacent and beneath the barrel 2 is a balancer l whichpreferably is an independent unit constructed separately from thefirearm I, but as to this I do not limit myself. A tubular member 8 isprovided which is closed at its rearward end by a plug 9. Within and.preferably enclosed by the tubular member are balancing weight meanswhich are readily removable from the tubular member and adjustable tochange the balance characteristics of the combined firearm and balancer.In the particular form of means includes a relatively heavy member [0and one or more relatively lighter members H, all of which are looselyreceived within the tubular member 8. The members ll primarily functionas spacing members and are preferably formed of a material such as corkfor in stance. A readily removable closure, such as a threaded cap [2,is provided at the forward end of the tubular member for holding thebalancing means therewithin.

In the now preferred form of the invention, resilient means is providedwithin the tubular portion operable to absorb shocks incident to firingand to prevent any unrestrained movement of the balancing weight meanswhen the closure I2 is in place. I have indicated such a means at I3which in the illustrated construction comprises a plug of resilientmaterial such as felt. It will be apparent that this resilient plug notonly functions to absorb shocks and to prevent unrestrained movement ofthe balancing weight means, but also serves to exert a thrust againstthe closure 12 to prevent accidental turning thereof.

It is obvious that by removing the closure l2 the member l0 and membersIt may be readily removed from the tubular member 8 and reinsertedtherein in different relative positions so as to effectively change thebalance characteristics of the entire assembly.

When the balancer is made in the form of an attachment as illustrated,means are provided for securing it to the frearrn. The form of attachingmeans which I now prefer comprises two supports I 4 and I5 adjacent therearward and forward ends, respectively, of the tubular member. The rearsupport l4 comprises a body portion 16 which is secured to the tubularmember in any desired manner and two arm portions l'! which partiallysurround the barrel, the ends of the arms being spaced apartsufiiciently to permit the support to slide by the front sight. Theforward support 15 comprises a body part l8 surrounding and secured tothe tubular member and a second part l9 adapted to fit over the top ofthe barrel. Screws 20 serve to securethe two parts together to thusclamp the balancer securely to the barrel.

It should be understood that many changes in the specific constructionillustrated may be made within the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A balancer for a firearm having a barrel,

the invention illustrated the balancing weight aid balancer comprising atubular portion located adjacent and beneath the barrel, readilyremovable balancing weight means loosely received within the tubularportion and adjustable to change the balance characteristics of thecombined firearm and balancer, and a removable closure secured to theforward end of said tubular portion.

,2. A balancer for a firearm having a barrel,

said balancer comprising a tubular portion located adjacent and beneaththe barrel, readily removable balancing weight means 1OOS7G1Y7Y- ceivedwithin the tubular portion and adjustable to change the balancecharacteristics of the combined firearm and balancer, a removable berwithin the tubular member and of less weight than said balancing Weight,s'aid balancing weight and spacer member being positionallyinterchangeable to change the balance characteristics of the combinedfirearm and balancer, and a removable closure secured to the forward endof said tubular member.

4. A balancer for a firearm having a barrel, said balancer comprising atubular member located adjacent and beneath the barrel, a readilyremovable balancing weight within the tubular member, a readily'removable spacer member within the tubular member and of less weightthan said balancing Weight, said balancing weight and spacer memberbeing positionally interchangeable to change the balance characteristicsof the combined firearm and balancer, a removable closure secured to theforward end of said tubular member, and resilient means Within saidtubular member operable to prevent any unrestrained movement of saidbalancing weight when said closure is in place.

